INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System (front seats)

WARNING
To ensure proper operation of the passenger’s
advanced air bag system, please
observe the following items.
► Do not allow a passenger in the rear seat
to push or pull on the seatback pocket.
► Do not place heavy loads heavier than 9
lbs. (4 kg) on the seatback, head
restraint or in the seatback pocket.
► Do not store cargo behind the seat that
can press into the seatback.
► Do not position the front passenger seat
so it contacts the rear seat. If the front
seat does contact the rear seat, the air
bag system may determine a sensor
malfunction has occurred and the front
passenger air bag status light may illuminate and the
supplemental air bag
warning light may flash.
► If a forward facing child restraint is
installed in the front passenger seat,
do not position the front passenger seat
so the child restraint contacts the
instrument panel. If the child restraint
does contact the instrument panel, the
system may determine the seat is
occupied and the passenger air bag
may deploy in a collision. Also the front
passenger air bag status light may not
illuminate. See “Child restraints” earlier
in this section for information about
installing and using child restraints.
► Confirm the operating condition with the
front passenger air bag status light.
► If you notice that the front passenger air
bag status light is not operating in
accordance with the above description,
please take your vehicle to your INFINITI
retailer to check the passenger seat
advanced air bag system.
► Until you have confirmed with your
retailer that your passenger seat advanced
air bag is working properly,
position the occupants in the rear
seating positions.

This vehicle is equipped with the INFINITI
Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and
front passenger seats. This system is
designed to meet certification requirements
under U.S. regulations. It is also
permitted in Canada. However, all of the
information, cautions and warnings in this
manual still apply and must be followed.
The driver supplemental front-impact air
bag is located in the center of the steering
wheel. The passenger supplemental frontimpact
air bag is mounted in the instrument
panel above the glove box. The front
air bags are designed to inflate in higher
severity frontal collisions, although they
may inflate if the forces in another type of
collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. They may not
inflate in certain frontal collisions. Vehicle
damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper front air bag operation.
The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System has
dual stage air bag inflators. The system
monitors information from the Air bag
Control Unit (ACU), seat belt buckle sensors
and the occupant classification sensors
(weight sensors). Inflator operation is
based on the severity of a collision and
seat belt usage for the driver. For the front
passenger, the occupant classification
sensors are also monitored. Based on
information from the sensors, only one
front air bag may inflate in a crash,
depending on the crash severity and
whether the front occupants are belted or
unbelted. Additionally, the front passenger
air bag may be automatically turned OFF
under some conditions, depending on the
information provided by the occupant
classification sensors. If the front passenger
air bag is OFF, the passenger air bag
status light will be illuminated (if the seat
is unoccupied, the light will not be
illuminated, but the air bag will be off).
(See “Front passenger air bag and status
light” later in this section for further
details.) One front air bag inflating does
not indicate improper performance of the
system.
If you have any questions about your air
bag system, contact INFINITI or an INFINITI
retailer. If you are considering modification
of your vehicle due to a disability, you may
also contact INFINITI. Contact information
is contained in the front of this Owner’s
Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise may be heard,
followed by release of
smoke. This smoke is not harmful and does
not indicate a fire. Care should be taken
not to inhale it, as it may cause irritation
and choking. Those with a history of a
breathing condition should get fresh air
promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat
belts, help to cushion the impact force on
the head and chest of the front occupants.
They can help save lives and reduce
serious injuries. However, an inflating front
air bag may cause facial abrasions or other
injuries. Front air bags do not provide
restraint to the lower body.
Even with INFINITI advanced air bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel
or instrument panel. The front air bags
inflate quickly in order to help protect the
front occupants. Because of this, the force
of the front air bag inflating can increase
the risk of injury if the occupant is too
close to, or is against, the air bag module
during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a
collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air
bag warning light will turn off after about
7 seconds if the system is operational.

Front passenger air bag and status
light

Front passenger air bag status light

WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF under some conditions.
Read this section carefully to learn
how it operates. Proper use of the seat, seat
belt and child restraints is necessary for
most effective protection. Failure to follow
all instructions in this manual concerning
the use of seats, seat belts and child
restraints can increase the risk or severity of injury in an
accident.

Status light:

The front passenger air bag status light
is located on the instrument panel.
After the ignition switch is placed in the
"ON" position, the front passenger air bag
status light on the instrument panel
illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off or operates depending on the
front passenger seat occupied status.
The light operates as follows:
► Unoccupied passenger seat: The
light is OFF and the front passenger air
bag is OFF and will not inflate in a
crash.
► Passenger seat occupied by a small
adult, child or child restraint as outlined
in this section: The light
illuminates to indicate that the front
passenger air bag is OFF and will not
inflate in a crash.
► Occupied passenger seat and the passenger
meets the conditions outlined in
this section: The
light is OFF to
indicate that the front passenger air
bag is operational.

Front passenger air bag:

The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as described
below as permitted by U.S. regulations.
If the front passenger air bag is OFF,
it will not inflate in a crash. The driver air
bag and other air bags in your vehicle are
not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help
reduce the risk of injury or death from an
inflating air bag to certain front passenger
seat occupants, such as children, by
requiring the air bag to be automatically
turned OFF.
The occupant classification sensors
(weight sensors) are on the seat cushion
frame under the front passenger seat and
are designed to detect an occupant and
objects on the seat. For example, if a child
is in the front passenger seat, the Advanced
Air Bag System is designed to turn
the passenger air bag OFF in accordance
with the regulations. Also, if a child
restraint of the type specified in the
regulations is on the seat, the occupant
classification sensors can detect it and
cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt
as outlined in this manual should not
cause the passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For small adults it
may be turned OFF, however, if the
occupant does not sit in the seat properly
(for example, by not sitting upright, by
sitting on an edge of the seat, or by
otherwise being out of position), this could
cause the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
Always be sure to be seated and wearing
the seat belt properly for the most effective
protection by the seat belt and supplemental
air bag.
INFINITI recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear
seat. INFINITI also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be
properly installed in a rear seat. If this is
not possible, the occupant classification
sensors are designed to operate as described
above to turn the front passenger
air bag OFF for specified child restraints.
Failing to properly secure child restrains
and to use the ALR mode may allow the
restraint to tip or move in an accident or
sudden stop. This can also result in the
passenger air bag inflating in a crash instead of being OFF.
(See “Child restraints”
earlier in this section for proper
use and installation.).
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the passenger air bag is designed not to
inflate in a crash. However, heavy objects
placed on the seat could result in air bag
inflation, because of the object being
detected by the occupant classification
sensors. Other conditions could also result
in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are
on the seat, contrary to the instructions in
this manual. Always be sure that you and
all vehicle occupants are seated and
restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light,
you can monitor when the front passenger
air bag is automatically turned OFF with the
seat occupied. The light will not illuminate
when the front passenger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
passenger air bag status light is illuminated
(indicating that the air bag is OFF), it
could be that the person is a small adult,
or is not sitting on the seat properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the passenger air bag status light
may or may not be illuminated, depending
on the size of the child and the type of
child restraint being used. If the passenger
air bag status light is not illuminated
(indicating that the air bag might inflate
in a crash), it could be that the child
restraint or seat belt is not being used
properly. Make sure that the child restraint
is installed properly, the seat belt is used
properly and the occupant is positioned
properly. If the passenger air bag status
light is still not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not
illuminate even though you believe that the
child restraint, the seat belts and the
occupant are properly positioned, the
system may be sensing an unoccupied
seat (in which case the air bag is OFF). Your
INFINITI retailer can check that the system
is OFF by using a special tool. However,
until you have confirmed with your retailer
that your air bag is working properly,
reposition the occupant or child restraint
in a rear seat.
The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System and
passenger air bag status light will take a
few seconds to register a change in the
passenger seat status. However, if the seat
becomes unoccupied, the air bag status
light will remain off.
If a malfunction occurs in the front
passenger air bag system, the supplemental
air bag warning light , located in
the
meter and gauges area will blink. Have the
system checked by an INFINITI retailer.

Other supplemental front-impact
air bag precautions

WARNING

► Do not place any objects on the steering
wheel pad or on the instrument panel.
Also, do not place any objects between
any occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Such objects may
become dangerous projectiles and cause
injury if the front air bags inflate.
► Do not place objects with sharp edges
on the seat. Also, do not place heavy
objects on the seat that will leave
permanent impressions in the seat. Such
objects can damage the seat or occupant
classification sensors (weight sensors).
This can affect the operation of the air
bag system and result in serious personal
injury.
► Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classification
sensors. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
► Immediately after inflation, several front
air bag system components will be hot.
Do not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.
► No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental air bag system. This is
to prevent accidental inflation of the
supplemental air bag or damage to the
supplemental air bag system.
► Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, suspension
system or front end structure. This
could affect proper operation of the front
air bag system.
► Tampering with the air bag system may
result in serious personal injury. Tampering
includes changes to the steering
wheel and the instrument panel assembly
by placing material over the steering
wheel pad and above the instrument
panel or by installing additional trim
material around the air bag system.
► Removing or modifying the front passenger
seat may affect the function of
the air bag system and result in serious
personal injury.
► Modifying or tampering with the front
passenger seat may result in serious
personal injury. For example, do not
change the front seats by placing
material on the seat cushion or by
installing additional trim material, such
as seat covers, on the seat that is not
specifically designed to assure proper
air bag operation. Additionally, do not
stow any objects under the front passenger
seat or the seat cushion and
seatback. Such objects may interfere
with the proper operation of the occupant
classification sensors.
► No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the seat belt system. This may affect the
front air bag system. Tampering with the
seat belt system may result in serious
personal injury.
► Work on and around the front air bag
system should be done by an INFINITI
retailer. Installation of electrical equipment
should also be done by an INFINITI
retailer. The Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) wiring harnesses should
not be modified or disconnected. Unauthorized
electrical test equipment and
probing devices should not be used on
the air bag system.
► A cracked windshield should be replaced
immediately by a qualified repair facility.
A cracked windshield could affect the
function of the supplemental air bag
system.

The SRS wiring harness connectors
are yellow and orange for easy
identification.

When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the front air
bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner’s Manual.

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